Tony GarciaDetroit Free Press
The question was valid, even if it seemed to catch Will Johnson off guard.
Michigan football’s star defensive back stood in front of a semicircle of reporters on Thursday afternoon at Plymouth Educational Center in Detroit just moments before he kicked off his third annual youth camp — with the help of more than a dozen high-profile teammates like Donovan Edwards, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Alex Orji, Semaj Morgan and Colston Loveland among others.
But for Johnson, what’s left for him to prove?
Johnson has only played two years of college ball, so he wasn't even eligible to enter the NFL draft this spring. But it does seem he has done about all he can at this level.
The Michigan legacy pledged to his dad’s alma mater as a five-star prospect from Grosse Pointe South and broke into the starting rotation by the end of his first collegiate season when he became a freshman All-American and helped lead the Wolverines to a second consecutive Big Ten championship.
That was all before his sophom*ore season this past fall, when he truly broke onto the national scene.
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Despite missing nearly the entire summer and non-conference potion of the schedule as he rehabbed from an offseason knee scope, Johnson came back better than ever as he played in 12 games (11 starts) and finished with 27 tackles, eight pass breakups and four interceptions, including a pick-six against Minnesota.
He was named a first team All-American by Sports Illustrated and second-team All-American by USA TODAY in addition to national championship game defensive MVP after he intercepted Michael Penix’s first pass of the third quarter and recorded four other tackles as the U-M won its first title since 1997.
Widely considered in the upper echelon of defensive backs in America, a defending national champion and 28-1 career record, what else could Johnson possibly do at U-M?
“There’s always more,” Johnson said. “Last year, I’d say I had a pretty good year, but it wasn’t anywhere I wanted to be at all. So I got a lot more to shoot for this year, just to be the best version of me that I can be.”
If Johnson isnot yet at the best version of himself, that's good news for the Wolverines and bad news for the rest of the Big Ten and beyond. Widely projected as a first-round draft pick, Johnson has all the tools to be a cover corner at the highest level.
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At 6 feet 2 and 205 pounds, Johnson's wingspan is even longer than his length. He has good speed for his size, is one of the best support tacklers on the outside in the nation and possess perhaps the best pure ball skills of any cornerback in the nation; evidenced by his seven interceptions and 14 pass breakups in his career.
Last year, per Pro Football Focus, Johnson allowed just 17 completions on 37 targets for 267 yards (7.22 yards per attempt) and no touchdowns. That includes two of the nation's top two receivers in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze, who caught just three passes on six targets combined with Johnson in coverage.
When head coach Sherrone Moore, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan took their turns raving about "the best corner in the nation," they spoke to his work ethic and leadership even before his natural ability as what truly separates him.
"There are guys that are 6-2, 200 pounds and can run and tackle and all that and I think he does that with the best of them," Morgan told the Free Press. "He's a unique player and I think people don't understand the day to day grind and focus that kid has.
"He's the hardest-working player in the program. ... He's the first one to meetings, speaking up in meetings, then he goes out, pre-practice routine, he might be out there 30-40 minutes before we even start. We watches film, he corrects the film, if he sees something that some else ain't doing, he's gonna speak up."
Dominating on the field has always come naturally to Johnson. Per PFF, his 91.1 grade in man coverage led all true freshman in Power Five conferences in 2022, and his 29.1 passer rating allowed when he was the primary defender in coverage in 2023 was fifth best among all DBs in the country.
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Now, after playing for Jesse Minter the past two seasons, he's under the tutelage of Martindale, an old-school defensive mind with more than two decades of experience at the NFL level. On Thursday, Martindale told the Free Press there is naturally a bit of an adjustment going from coaching in the pros to college, but Johnson reminds him of some of the best he's ever seen.
"He’s got ball skills like Champ Bailey, smooth like (Charles Woodson) and tackles like C-Wood and I thought Charles Woodson was one of the best tacklers I’ve ever been around," Martindale said. "I know he’s a first-round pick, how well he does this season will depend where he’s at in the first round."
That's why Johnson is focused on being the best version of himself this season. It's also why he's challenging himself by taking on the role as a vocal leader.
After all, gone is Mike Sainristil, a two-time captain, an All-American nickel and the most boisterous player in the secondary. Now, it's up to Johnson to be the lightning rod of a defensive backs room that looks entirely different from last season. In addition to Sainristil and Josh Wallace leaving for the NFL, Rod Moore suffered a knee injury and Keon Sabb transferred to Alabama.
That left some holes in the secondary, which U-M filled in a a 72-hour flurry earlier this month, with FCS All-American Aamir Hall (Albany), sixth-year safety Wesley Walker (Tennessee), former All-Big Ten honorable mention Jaden Mangham (Michigan State) and veteran Ricky Johnson (UNLV).
"I think definitely just be there more for my guys," Johnson said of another offseason emphasis. "Not that I wasn't last year, but be that vocal leader. ... A lot of guys have to learn this defense, they're new. So help them learn, get accustomed to how we do things around here."
Johnson said Sainristil was "everything you want in a leader" and also cited stars like J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum as people who he's "picked stuff up from" regarding leadership. The rest, he believes, will come with time and repetition.
So sure, the expectation (all but a guarantee) is Johnson will be on an NFL roster at this time next season. But that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to prove this year.
“There’s a lot of people saying we won’t be good this year,” Johnson said. “We got a nice schedule this year, we got a great group of guys this year, (and) some great coaches. I really just look at it as the same mentality as before, that hard work is undefeated.
“No matter how hard we work, it’s going to show on the field.”
Contact Tony Garcia:apgarcia@freepress.com. Follow him at@realtonygarcia.
